What's the difference? Are they not qualified for kids in the high street stores?
None of us use glasses so I'm unfamiliar with the process, i thought an eye test was pretty straightforward.
I want to take one of the kids for an eye test . Was checking Visilab just now to make an appointment and noticed it says -- If under 18 then make an appointment with an ophthalmologist .. (as opposed to an optician?)
Nope. Kids have to go to an ophthalmologist, they won’t see them in the high street opticians here (or in most if Europe outside the UK for that matter).
We had our normal GP refer our daughter (age 10 at the time) to an optometrist in town as his examination showed that she could use some slight correction with glasses. Previously, he referred our other daughter to an ophthalmologist. It might be worth stopping by your GP first as it could speed up the process of seeing an ophthalmologist if they decide that is the best path.
Why?
Tom
Thanks people .. Yeah in UK they just get a quick check in the high street..
Oh well .. GP first..
Health insurance will then cover the first 180(?)CHF of the lens cost.
No idea, it came as a bit of a surprise tous too when we first encountered it.
I think it may be because eyesight problems in kids may be as a result of a more complex medical issue which high street opticians are not qualified to deal with but I’m not really sure.
Correct, they don't do kids. They are not Dr.s and only modify an existing prescription if necessary. Kids and adults should have a proper eye exam periodically in my view. My kids have gone to Vision Future Nyon, visionfuturesuisse.ch, several times always with good experience, so would recommend.
Opticians in Switzerland are optometrists- totally different qualification than in the UK. They check which lense you need, but don't have the qualifications of equipment to do the full eye examination- back of eye, glaucoma, and more. So adults, especially those over 50, should get proper eye examination from optalmologist in CH.
Had I understood this in time, my poor mother would probably not have gone blind. By the time I understood the difference, it was too late.
I'll check them out ta..
One of the kids just occasionally complains about a sore head or occasionally complains that text is blurry .. I highly suspect there's no issue but a quick check should see.
UK opticians check general eye health. So they will do the test for glaucoma (since that is such a simple test, I can't comprehend why it doesn't get done via opticians here) and other conditions.
It doesn't happen here, so you need to see an eye doctor (as an adult) every few years. I didn't know this until this year. I was going blind through cataracts. Now I can see and drive without glasses. I can get buy without my reading glasses as well. And the colours are so bright...
Aside of an eye test, I think I'd limit the kid's time on the cell screen and see if the headache still sticks.
Try https://www.coc-nyon.ch , Dr Ariane Chappaz, for kids. She is really good. They check everything. You can book online too. You might have to be referred by the pediatrician, GP first but check with them.
Our Paediatrician could do the very basic check, and then refer if needed.
It's also about insurance - walk in - you pay, referal from doctor, health insurance pays.
It's also about insurance - walk in - you pay, referal from doctor, health insurance pays.[/QUOTE]
Never had a referral from doctor to go optician. I just took 2 of my kids by myself, but it wasn’t high street optician just the eye doctor. Insurance always paid, no problems.
Actually for eye doctor you don’t need referral.
I will not agree with that totally. In uk also you can see an eye doctor if you need one, but you need a referral.
It happened to my daughter after we noticed that one of her eye doesn’t stay straight. She was 3yo and GP sent us to hospital to see kid optician. When she was 6-7 they said that she can continue with high street opticians .
Myself I had an eye check with eye doctor at hospital, this time it was referred by high street optician.